The discoveries reveal new insights into creatures from Australia’s ancient inland sea.

The exciting discoveries were made on Proa Redclaw Farm, near Julia Creek, QLD in July. Local landowners Duncan and Judy Fysh invited representatives from Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond and students from RMIT University in Victoria to search for fossils on their property.

“We were out in the paddock when I heard a terrific scream – I thought that someone had been bitten by a snake. It turned out to be an excited palaeontologist instead,” Mr Fysh said.

“I was turning over pieces of mudstone, searching for bone,’’ said Dr Timothy Holland, of Kronosaurus Korner.

‘‘Much to my surprise, the underside of one of these rocks contained the huge eye socket of a fish called Cooyoo – it was almost like it was staring up at me.” 

The significant new find showed that Cooyoo had far larger teeth than previously thought, with prior reconstructions depicting small, comb-like teeth in the upper jaw. The two centimetre long pointed teeth were suited for gripping struggling prey, including other fishes from the inland sea.

“Cooyoo looked like the tarpon from hell, with a large underbite giving it an exaggerated cartoonish appearance. It stretched over three metres in length and had a powerful tail enabling rapid movement. 

‘‘Its only threats were large marine reptiles and sharks,”  Dr Holland said.

Further searching at the site revealed another startling find – the skeletons of over 20 diminutive fossil fishes inside the shell of a clam. The skeletons, each measuring three to four centimetres in length, were discovered by Paul Ter of RMIT University.

“This is the best preserved example of smaller fish from Australia’s Cretaceous inland sea. We usually deal with jumbled or isolated bones from such creatures, not entire skeletons. It’s possible that the associated clam shell may have protected the remains of these fish from scavengers or currents that would have otherwise disarticulated their bones,” Dr Holland said.

“To see tiny articulated skulls, strings of vertebrae and fins is amazing. This find will hopefully allow a detailed study of these previously undescribed extinct forms.”

The specimens went on display today at Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond. Kronosaurus Korner is Australia’s Premier Marine Fossil Museum, showcasing over a thousand well-preserved fossils from Australia’s Cretaceous inland sea.